Thursday, February 17, 2011

What if we Threw Out Christianity?!

I'm serious. Is Christianity really all that important? If you were to take out the eternal salvation aspect and the comfort at funerals of Christians, etc. What would this world be like without Christianity? Would people be relieved? Just how significant is Christianity to people in our nation? People who aren't Christians as well as most people who say they are.

What if we threw out Christianity?

Jiang Zemin is the former leader of Communist China. Former Time correspondent, David Aikman interviewed the retiring head of state in Communist China in 2002 and asked what Zemin wished for in regard to China’s future. Zemin's response shocked Aikman, and much of the world, when he replied:

“I would like for my country to become a Christian nation.” (Aikman, David. “A Report on Christianity in China: A Conversation With David Aikman.” Speech at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, September 26, 2002.)

When asked “Why?” Zemin’s response was an amazing revelation. He explained how a panel of Chinese scholars had spent twenty years studying why China continually lagged behind the West in science, industry, and culture.

“One of the things we were asked to do was look into what accounted for the success, in fact, the pre-eminence of the West all over the world. We studied everything we could from the historical, political, economic, and cultural perspective. At first, we thought it was because of a more powerful military. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic systems. But in the past 20 years we have realized that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. This is why the West is powerful. The Christian moral foundation of the social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don’t have any doubt about this.” (Quoted from Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity is Changing the Global Balance of Power, by David Aikman.)

Wow.

There is nothing like an "objective observer" to help us see the significance of something, is there? It isn't really so unusual to do that. For example, my husband appreciates it when I encourage him...but part of him thinks I only say good things because I have to. That's not correct thinking - but it is normal to assume something like that. So when somebody says something encouraging, and that somebody isn't me, well...in some ways it has a bigger impact on him. That is true of most people.

When I read about the Chinese actually spending 20 years researching the reason for the power and strength of the west, I was amazed. But the conclusion they came to was the most amazing eye opener to me.

What would happen if we threw out Christianity?

What do you think?

7 comments:

Parsley said...

I think we are seeing, right now, 'what would happen' because the basic fundamentals of Christianity are being discarded even within our churches.

Debbie said...

Shay, I think we're already observing it. It is that very root of every ill in this country. The greater the giant step away from the principles of the Christian faith. (I would really say the Judeo-Christian faith), the more EVERYTHING falls apart.

Unlike every other religion, it is a relationship. Relationships are life altering.

Sharon said...

I think the evidence of what happens when you throw out Christianity is exactly what's happening in our country - moral degradation, worship of money, family dysfunction, etc.

And you know what? It isn't so much that we're throwing out the "religion" of Christianity - it's that we're throwing out Jesus. Without Him, the world gets terribly, terribly dark.

GOD BLESS!

Ken said...

I see it happening right now in America and it will cost us dearly. It already is costing us. The thief comes to kill, steel and destroy. When we throw out Jesus then we are trusting the thief (Satan).

Clint said...

Shay---thank you for the comment on my blog about your experience raising children. It is a real shame that you---or anyone---has to go through that kind of stuff.

On the matter at hand, I read your post and liked what Mr Zemin said; but I have been trained to check things out. His remarks seemed too good to be true. I googled. It is true.

Here's hoping that our own nation can begin to see that following Christian principles will lift us to where God wants us. It seems so funny that China, a virtual dictatorship, sees Christianity as a positive, uniting force. Great post!

Toyin O. said...

It is amazing to see what the Chinese thinks Christanity can do for their country. However, the Western world is not what it use to be. God has been thrown out of our schools and every place you can imagine; which is why our world is in rapid decay. Interesting question Shay.

Philip Verghese 'Ariel' said...

Very Interesting post, yes, US. once a country built on Christianity and Faith in Christ. Now it's all gone and Christians are persecuted even worst than the other non-christian countries, the other day I watched a video how the American police is thrashing out a Christian street preacher, Its really sad to note that US is going to the extreme in persecuting professing Christians. The word Christianity is not important but the person behind it is important. Yes, yeah,If you have Christ you have everything, if you have no Christ you are nothing. America and its people if note this point there is still hope, otherwise....
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thanks for this sharing
best
philip